Chapter 3 EXAM 2

why is uniform circular motion considered circular?

circular trajectory, results in direction changes (which is why velocity changes but speed stays the same)

how does centripetal force affect motion?

DOES NOT SPEED UP, only change in direction (centripetal acceleration)

define feeling of acceleration

a person undergoing accel experiences a weightlike sensation exactly opposite the direction of accel

are objects undergoing uniform circular motion travelling at a constant velocity or are they accelerating?

accelerating (constant speed, but changing velocity's direction)

define centripetal force

centrally directed force, pushes object toward to center

how does an object's velocity change during centripetal acceleration but its speed stays the same?

change in direction causes the velocity to change (velocity's magnitude stays the same)

define apparent weight

combined feelings of weight and acceleration

what is hooke's law equation?

f = -k * x (f is force on spring, K is spring constant, x is extension of spring)

what is this phrase describing? "the stiffer the spring and the farther you stretch it, the harder is pulls back"

hooke's law

which way does a restoring force point?

in the opposite direction of distortion

what is the relationship between spring constant and restoring force?

larger spring constant = larger restoring force (exerted for a given distortion)

how do you calculate centripetal force?

m * v^2/r (m= mass, v= speed, r = radius)

define spring constant

measure of a spring's stiffness

what is the relationship between acceleration and apparent weight?

more acceleration means stronger your apparent weight feels (proportional relationship)

define uniform circular motion

motion at a constant speed along a circular trajectory, object is accelerating toward the center of the circle (the speed, which is the magnitude of velocity, stays the same during uniform circular motion despite the acceleration b/c the acceleration occurs due to the object's changing direction)

where does centripetal force fit on the contact/non-contact force spectrum?

neither, its the net force that causes something to move in a circle

why is uniform circular motion considered uniform?

object always travels at the same speed

what would happen if there was no centripetal acceleration/force?

object would fly off its circular path tangent to the circle

which way do you feel the feeling of acceleration?

opposite the direction of accel

what is the relationship between restoring force and distortion?

restoring force is proportional to distortion (how far we've stretched the spring)

why is the spring constant negative (-k) in hooke's law?

shows that restoring force always points in direction opposite distortion (if you pull a spring to the right, its restoring force is to the left; if you pull a spring down, its restoring force is up)

why are some springs considered soft?

small spring constant (these springs will experience a small restoring force)

define hooke's law in words

the restoring force exerted by an elastic object is proportional to how far it has been distorted from its equilibrium shape

what does it mean if you have a large spring constant?

the spring is stiff (firm) (these springs will experience a large restoring force)

what kind of motion does an object that is experiencing centripetal acceleration do?

uniform circular motion

how do you calculate centripetal accel?

v^2/radius OR angular speed^2*radius